Wine and Cheese Pairings for Noobs

Are you beginning to trade in ice-cold beer Thirstdays to wine night Fridays? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. It just means you’re beginning to appreciate the finer things in life. If you’ve come to love it more than you should and want to host your first ever #winenight, know that you don’t have to be a connoisseur to throw one.

Choosing the right vino and keso pairing can be intimidating, especially since there are a ton of options to choose from. Ever heard of a Thym Tamarre, Maroilles, Tomme Corse, Nenuphar, or a Morbier Bichonne? Yes, those are types of cheeses, BTW. But trust us when we tell you that this pleasurable culinary combo doesn’t have to be so complicated for beginners. We all have to start somewhere, right? To help you throw a successful cheese and wine night on your own, here are a few basics guidelines to keep in mind.

1. White wine for soft cheeses and red wine for hard cheeses.

This is a Rouleau de Provence. It is a fresh goat soft cheese with herbs. Since it is very soft and creamy, it will taste best with a Rosé wine.

Soft cheeses tend to have stronger and more pungent flavors, which make the smoothness of the white wine the perfect match. Red wine on the other hand will best fare with the milder flavors of the firmer variety without overwhelming them.

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2. Brie and Camembert are always good choices for beginners.

Aside from good old cooking cheddar and mozzarella, Brie and Camembert are the most accessible cheeses you can find in any grocery here in Manila. It will be good to know that they are great enjoyed with champagne and sparkling wine.

3. Think contrasting flavors.

IMAGE Bea Jocom

You can never go wrong with the pairing of sweet and fruity wine and salty cheeses. Try Blue cheese, Gouda, and Feta.

4. There is no such thing as a perfect combination.

When your head starts to ache, remind yourself that there is no one kind of wine exactly made for a certain type of cheese. At the end of the day, it will all boil down to your taste and preference.

5. Take a class.

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Elevate your appreciation of the treat by taking a class. If the Americans have the 4th of July, French National Day falls on the 14th of July. To celebrate French month, Sofitel Manila invited Cheese Specialist, Colin Chandaras, who brought in over 210 types of cheeses, to satisfy our growing adoration for the dairy treat. They have lined up a series of exciting events the entire month, and if you’re lucky, you can catch the master cheesemaker Pascal Beillevaire-trained Chandaras in Spiral. That or join the cheese and wine tasting on the 10th of July for P1800 nett per person.